The day: German hunters shoot and catch 88,000 Nutrias

Monday 07 December 2020

The day
German hunters shoot and catch 88,000 nutrias

(Photo: dpa)

Nutri – what? Nutrias. These are rodents that come from South America and look like beavers, but are not beavers (recognizable by their round instead of flattened tail). They were introduced 100 years ago because of their fur, then escaped and thanks to climate change they have multiplied magnificently in Germany. So much so, that hunters have been this year 88,000 animals shot or caught – twice as many as last year. They appreciate the fur and the meat can be seared for "modern game dishes". By the way, you may also know the nutrias under the name swamp beaver or beaver rat. According to conservationists, they have become an indispensable part of the local animal world.